Today I took a friend out for coffee/tea. He is from Sudan. As I sat sipping my warm Chai Tea Latte and talking to him I knew the time we spent talking about American ways and life was something he very much appreciated and found joy in. It was great for me to get to share my thoughts and ideas regarding the refugee situation here in Memphis and even greater for me to hear and learn from his personal experiences. I’ll call this gentleman Caleb.

Caleb wants an American name anyways. After hearing his story, I cannot say as I blame him or doubt his reasoning. He’s not trying to hide who he is. As a matter of fact he’s bold vocally about his hearts changes and understandings about who God is to him. Caleb is smart and carries himself very educated and well mannered. He speaks three languages fluently and writes in about five or six. Caleb always thinks outside the box and wants to help me with the work I do. He was once a very rich man and now has been financially ruined because of unfortunate political mishaps out of his control. He knows what money can buy and he now knows what it’s like to have nothing. He will not ask for things to help himself; he’s humble, hopeful and wants to work and earn what he needs on his own. Caleb is single and alone walking and thinking a lot but has not allowed himself to become overly bitter or cold hearted towards the cruel world around him that tries to keep him in a cycle of oppression. He is beginning more and more to understand that so many people just don’t understand. Caleb and I spoke about forgiveness and how Jesus cried out, “Forgive them Father, for they do not understand“. Caleb forgives.

Someone who has always experienced financial riches and wealth CANNOT truly understand what it’s like to be in the shoes of a poor man. And, a poor man CANNOT understand what’s its truly like to be rich. The rich have their problems and so often the more they have the more obstacles they have in the way of them seeing God at all. The poor have their problems and so often (as Caleb stated) they grow bitter and struggle to love others and neglect the love of God.

I love to do life among the poor and am truly blessed each time I intertwine my life with theirs. I don’t see them as poor though and don’t like to label them this way…I see them as rich in many ways I am not. As I continue to make great friends of those that have different cultural experiences and different life challenges, I pray my eyes, ears and heart are open wide. I pray for God’s wisdom to not miss a lesson I need to know to be a better me and to exhibit my best in Christ to others. ALL others!! (All different kinds of people). I like what Mother Teresa said, “We do not want to do what other religious orders have done throughout history, and begin by serving the poor only to end up unconsciously serving the rich. In order to understand and help those who have nothing, we must live like them…the only difference is those people are poor by birth, and we are poor by choice.” (Mother Teresa’s Authorized Biography). Being at a ground level with struggling refugees who have come to America to start their lives over is a challenging, humbling, life changing and blessed thing. I know I and many of the volunteers at Asha’s Refuge grow closer to God because of these experiences. There is always something new to learn. I personally want to aim to serve ALL people unto Jesus though…rich, poor or in the middle. I believe with all my heart it’s kinda done the same way…just love.

Asha’s Refuge will be working towards a two day a week one to one teaching and mentoring plan. This will enable us to be better at getting closer to the hearts needs of each individual refugee as well as be personally blessed by building hopefully lasting relationships between volunteers and refugee students. Both sides, refugee and volunteer, will learn from one another. We will need lots of volunteers willing to organize, help and be blessed. If you speak English and love Jesus, you are qualified. Please let us know if you want to know more about how you can help.

By the way, Caleb and I spoke a lot today about resumes and various American business etiquette and application procedures. He knows we Americans have our way of doing things and wants to understand this enough to land a job that will allow him not to have to depend on government assistance. Remember, he’s educated and was very wealthy at one time in his country. He’s had about 5-6 years of college but under the difficult circumstances he never was able to graduate with a degree. He needs a job and is eager and willing to start from the bottom of a good company, be trained and learn more. Three hour online job applications are complicated and questions are often misinterpreted and confusing. He does speak great English and completes these but has not felt confident about his ability to express to others in America who he is on paper or through a computer question and answer session. If you are an employer looking to to fill a position Caleb might be your answer. Please contact me at jamie@ashasrefuge.org and thank you!